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Jaz held her end of a wood plank as Adrian lifted his end into position. With the exterior slat in place, he nodded at her. “Nail it.”
Over the past week, the weather had turned cooler. Leaves were showing colorful hints of changes, as was the pack. She’d had to battle one to calm him down more than prove her dominance.
Another one in wolf form tried sneaking up on Adrian, who released Red to face the poor example of a threat. That wolf took one look at Red, dropped down, and covered his head with his paws.
Tanza hadn’t spoken to Jaz since that awful day. Jaz and Adrian had taken it upon themselves to build their own little home away from the big house.
That was Tanza’s home.
Jaz couldn’t be happier with the A-frame structure of one big room with a loft bedroom at the top. It was two or three times the size of her cave.
They’d finish this in a couple more days.
Adrian turned out to be a demon when it came to construction. He enjoyed working with his hands and building.
She paused and whispered, “Company.”
Adrian finished his nailing and put the hammer down, turning as Jaz did the same.
Tanza walked up. She still had that empty shell look. Since she had come to them, Jaz only said, “Hi.”
Adrian leaned back against the partially finished exterior and nodded at Tanza.
The young woman asked, “When will this be completed?”
What the heck? Was Tanza going to give them shit about the A-frame? Holding her patience, Jaz said, “In a couple more days. We’re moving pretty fast. Two of the pack have shown up to help.”
“That works,” Tanza said, lacking any emotion in her words. “I need to move in here.”
Patience blown, Jaz said, “Now, wait a minute. We built this with our own funds.”
“I realize that.” Running her hands through wavy brunette hair that could use a brush, Tanza said, “I can’t stay in that house with all the memories. I may not stay here at all, but I want a smaller place until I figure everything out. You two can live in the house.”
Adrian exchanged a look with Jaz. He asked, “Are you sure, Tanza? Maybe you should give it another week. We’re fine out here.”
“I’m done trying. I’m done with ... a lot of things.” The poor woman sounded defeated and beaten into the ground. Jaz so wanted to help her.
She had no doubt Adrian would agree with her about accepting the swap, but they wouldn’t do anything until Tanza was ready.
Jaz sent a look to Adrian, and he gave a half shrug. She said, “If that’s what you want, Tanza, that’s what we’ll do.
Jaz understood the need to control your world when it collapsed around you. She had to support the woman’s choice even if it broke her heart for Tanza to give up her home.
Adrian added, “Okay, Tanza. We’ll be happy to finish this up for you. We’d love some input on what you want, but even when we move into the house, all you have to say is you changed your mind. We’ll be happy to move out of the house and back here.”
“I won’t change my mind. I don’t need anything special. Finish this however you want.” She turned to walk off, then paused and looked over her shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Jaz could tell how difficult those words had been.
As Tanza moved away, a bird up above caught Jaz’s eye. She watched the huge hawk drop from a high branch and glide through the tree like a miniature fighter pilot.
Jaz asked quietly, “Do you see that big bird? Looks like a hawk. I’ve never seen one that big or that color. I swear it seems to be following Tanza.”
Adrian looked up sharply. “That is a hawk. He’s big because he’s one of ours.”
“That’s a Gallize shifter?” she asked softly. The pack knew that Adrian’s people were something special and respected the power, but not all the details.
“He’s not a Gallize, but he’s been on our teams for a long time. He showed up overseas and the Guardian brought him here.”
Jaz observed the bird’s covert motions again. “Really looks like he’s watching Tanza. Why?”
Adrian shook his head slowly. “Don’t know, but I plan to find out. Once we get this built and Tanza settled, I’ll make a visit to headquarters and chat with him. The boss wouldn’t send him without telling me.”
Pulling off his leather gloves, Adrian grumbled, “Tanza still hates me.”
“She hates us,” Jaz clarified with a smile. “Remember, now that we’re mated, we share everything.”
Adrian gave her a fast smooch. “You hungry?”
“Yes. I haven’t had time to make a run to the store.”
Waving that off, he said, “I’ve got the list we made this morning. I’ll go. I want to swing by the hardware for some supplies.”
When he’d walked away, she said, “Grab wine and we’ll dine under the stars tonight. Looks like a clear sky.”
He swung around and walked back to pick her up and kiss her soundly. When he put her down, he whispered, “I plan to dine on you tonight.” Then he strode off with a cocky hitch to his gait, laughing with pure happiness.
She’d never get tired of hearing that sound.
Watching him until he drove off, she turned to start picking up the wood scraps. Adrian did that all the time, saying it was easier to work on a clean site.
When she walked around the structure, admiring their construction work, she almost ran into Percee.
Jaz jumped back. “Fuck! You scared the shit out of me.”
“Doesn’t that mean you have a guilty conscience?” Percee tapped her cheek and smiled as she said that.
“Very funny,” Jaz griped. Then she took in Percee’s tight jeans and half top. She had interesting braids falling down each side of her face while the rest of her black hair moved like an ebony sheet. Cleaned up and with brilliant blue-green eyes in a tanned face, Percee looked every bit the powerful guardian Jaz now knew her to be.
That wasn’t a normal harpy eagle eye color.
Jaz had done some research. “What are you all dressed up for? Got a date?”
Percee cocked her head in a bird-like manner. "You practicing to be a matchmaker now? If I remember right, you needed me to hook you up with your mate last time.”
Jaz muttered, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Percee studied the structure. “How quaint. Does this qualify as a tiny house?”
Still perturbed at the eagle-shifter’s first comment, Jaz snapped, “No. Don’t diss this place. We’ve worked hard on it.”
“I guess it’s a matter of taste ... or a lack of,” Percee mused.
“Is there a reason for this visit or did your broom break in mid-flight?”
Percee laughed. “I like you. Some of the others had no personality.”
That reminded Jaz of something she’d wondered about. “Why didn’t you come down that day?”
“What day? The one where you annihilated the Blood King’s second-string killers?”
Shaking her head at the odd woman, Jaz said, “Yes.” She paused to look around. No one near. “The male Guardian watched you. They told me I’m a Gallize like Adrian, but the female version.”
“You are. Like Eli, you’re a rare female Gallize shifter where many of the others are not shifters,” Percee explained. Scrunching her nose, she added in a miffed voice, “As for that sea eagle, I’m not ready to talk to him.”
Jaz wondered how those two eagles could have any conflict when Adrian’s Guardian hadn’t seen the female guardian in over two hundred years.
Which made her wonder ... “How old are you, Percee?”
“Isn’t it rude to ask that?”
“No, it’s a simple question when no one has heard from a female Gallize guardian in over two hundred years. The men need your help.”
Muttering under her breath, she said, “They seemed to be fine. They have someone watching over them. The females need my help.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Not necessarily. I have to go.” Percee backed up three steps.
“Wait,” Jaz held up a hand. “Did you find the woman you were looking for?”
“Not yet.” Percee bent her knees and pushed off the ground, shifting into a massive harpy eagle as she did.
Jaz sighed and muttered to the empty spot, “You could have at least told me who you were looking for in case I meet her.”
The eagle caught air, flying higher and higher.
Then Percee’s voice came into Jaz’s mind. I’m searching for my mother. With that, she shot out of sight.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed seeing Jaz and Adrian get their HEA. I’m writing more books in this world, including a spinoff of their new and terribly messed up wolf pack. You will definitely see Percee again and learn more about the Guardian in future books. In the meantime, scroll down to find more fantasy and time travel stories.
I would appreciate you spreading the word, including telling a friend about my books. Please leave a review where you shop for books, which helps readers and authors.
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"There are shifters and then there are Gallize shifters."
~~ In My Humble Opinion
"Another hit series! Just when I thought I was getting bored with shifters Dianna Love proves that not all shifter series are the same!" Barnes & Noble review
"10 out of 5 stars Great work Dianna (as always)." Amazon review
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Dianna’s other series to read while waiting on new books:
The complete TREOIR DRAGON CHRONICLES in eBooks and audiobooks
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 1
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 2
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 3
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 4
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 5
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 6
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 7
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 8
Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 9
Science-fiction fantasy/time travel Red Moon Trilogy by
Micah Caida
Bestselling authors Dianna Love and Mary Buckham write as Micah Caida to create the sci-fi/fantasy time travel Red Moon Trilogy. This series is appropriate for Hunger Games readers and enjoyed by adults as well.
Book 1: Time Trap
Book 2: Time Return
Book 3: Time Lock
RAVES ABOUT DIANNA’S OTHER SERIES:
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Belador Urban Fantasy:
“When it comes to urban fantasy, Dianna Love is a master.” Always Reviewing.
"There is so much action in this book I feel like I’ve burned calories just reading it." D Antonio
“There are SO many things in this series that I want to learn more about; there’s no way I could list them all.” Lily, Romance Junkies Reviews
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Slye Temp Romantic Thrillers:
"...suspense, thrills, excitement, danger and a super romantic couple...Dianna Love writes romance suspense so well, as I consider her one of the best at creating believability and hooking us in from the start all the way to the exciting climax." ~~ Barb, The Reading Café
"Dianna never disappoints! ... would have give it a 10 if they would let!!! Very enjoyable read, can't wait for the next one :-)." ~~ Amy, Goodreads
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Red Moon Young Adult Sci-fi/Fantasy Series by Micah Caida (pen name of collaborators Dianna Love & Mary Buckham):
"Time Trap is amazingly original and unexpected...I loved every second of reading it!"~~ Alexandra F, 15, who has read The Book Thief, The Hunger Games, and Anna Karenina.
"Reading this book is like riding on a roller coaster, getting to the top and not knowing when the next drop is."~~ Alex B, 12 years old and has also read all of Rick Riordan’s books, the Hunger Games, the Chronicles of Nick, and the Rangers Apprentice series.
To contact Dianna – email her assistantATauthordiannalove.com
Websites: AuthorDiannaLove.com
Facebook – “Dianna Love Fan Page”
“Dianna Love Reader Community” Facebook group page (You’re invited)
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